'The Horror of What Kathleen Savio Went Through Before She Died'
A friend of Stacy Peterson's family was shocked and appalled by the frightful injuries covering Kathleen Savio's entire body.
Bruises covered the front of Kathleen Savio's dead body and her back was extensively scraped, the abrasions inflicted within an hour of her death, a doctor testified Wednesday.
The back of Savio's head also bore an inch-long deep wound resulting from a blow hard enough to split her scalp but not open it down to her skull, said the doctor, forensic pathologist Larry Blum.
Blum, testifying on the 10th day of Drew Peterson's murder trial, reviewed the autopsy performed by Dr. Bryan Mitchell in the weeks after Savio—the third wife of Peterson—was found drowned in her dry bathtub in March 2004. Blum also performed a second autopsy on Savio's exhumed remains after Peterson's next wife, Stacy Peterson, mysteriously vanished in October 2007.
Blum's testimony made it clear he disagreed with the conclusion drawn by Mitchell, who has since died. Mitchell wrote that the laceration to Savio's head looked like it could have been sustained when she slipped and fell in her bathtub. During an inquest into Savio's death, Will County Coroner Patrick O'Neil referred to Mitchell's report and said "there are six—or there are seven other bruises noted to the decedent, all of which are old."
Blum testified that the bruises were not old at all, and that they were put on her body within 24 hours of her dying.
Blum also said the abrasions on Savio's body could not have been caused by her back rubbing against the smooth surface of her bathtub.
"It looked like she was brutalized that night," said Pam Bosco, a family friend of the still-missing Stacy.
Bosco, who has taken on the role of spokeswoman for the young mother's family since she vanished, shuddered at the thought of Savio's last moments before drowning, saying, "The horror of what Kathleen Savio must have went through before she died."
Bosco has attended all 10 days of the trial, and has seemed to have gotten under the skin of Peterson attorney Joel Brodsky, who was grousing earlier in the week about Bosco's presence and public comments.
"The defense silenced two women and now they're trying to silence the spokeswoman," said Bosco, who has been frustrated by Judge Burmila's decision to limit mention of Stacy's name during the trial and to keep out some of Savio's hearsay statements.
"He's being disrespectful," she said of Brodsky, "and he's trying to silence those who would speak for them."
Blum's testimony took up nearly the entire afternoon and Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow told Burmila he still has more questions to ask. Blum will return to the witness stand Thursday morning.
Wednesday's session at the Will County Courthouse began with talk of a mistrial and saw the issue revisited near the end of the day.
Peterson's attorneys started things off by withdrawing a request for a mistrial they put forth late Tuesday after Assistant State's Attorney Kathleen Patton asked retired Bolingbrook police Lt. Teresa Kernc—who is now the mayor of Diamond—whether she advised Savio to seek an order of protection against Peterson.
Less than two hours earlier, before taking a midday recess, Judge Edward Burmila instructed prosecutors not to ask questions about the protective order, which Savio did not choose to pursue.
Then Wednesday afternoon, Blum testified that he "crawled into" Savio's bathtub while conducting his investigation of her death. The judge cleared the courtroom and grilled Glasgow about whether he told Blum—as he was instructed—to steer clear of talking about being in Savio's tub.
Glasgow claimed he did indeed tell Blum not to talk about climbing in the tub. Glasgow also explained that he was "woozy" after questioning the doctor for an hour and a half.
"Yesterday it was a brain cramp," Burmila said, apparently referring to Patton's screw-up. "Today it's wooziness."
Burmila scolded Glasgow and his assistants' for their apparent disregard of his instructions.
"It doesn't appear that any of the orders I've made in this case, the state has paid any attention," the judge said.
"The disrespect for the court in that regard is shocking to the conscience," he said.
Watchful Eye
8:32 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Maybe I'm wrong here, but this judge couldn't do any more to tie the hands of the prosecution and dictate how to present their case. If that's the impression he wants to give, he's there. I am so disgusted with the same arguments, over and over, about what the prosecution did against the orders of the judge. I'm not disgusted with the prosecution, I'm disgusted that they aren't being allowed to present their case. Isn't that obvious? Damn, a forensic pathologist can't even admit to climbing in the tub -- WTH? Just give the murder defendant the keys already and get this fiasco over with, if this is the way it's going to be. As long as I don't have a 23 year old daughter, and I don't have to live near the murder defendant, what else is there to say. He's contributed nothing to society but his puss in front of a camera, and his piehole in front of a microphone. If anyone wants to give up their time to look at this jerk's face over and over again if he's given his freedom, it's their choice.
Isn't this the way it was for Kathleen? The murder defendant always came out to be the victim and her the aggressor, and she had no where to go and no one to listen to her that could have helped her? Well, here it is again. Except, maybe the only light in this horrible mess is he's suffered in solitary confinement for three years...
Hearing today how awful her last few minutes of life were is just horrible.
Harry Callahan
7:36 am on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
@Watchful Eye, Do you remember the Fox case,were the father was accussed of killing and sexual assault of his 4yr old daughter,do you remember the south suburban police officer that was accussed of the shootings in Indiana and south suburbs of illinois,they were both innocent,do you remember??? Thats why we have trials and hopefully the truth comes out and the jury is right on their decision,but as of now if I was on that jury and I have served about 8 times I say I could not find Drew Peterson guilty unless the prosecution comes up with more evidence.
Watchful Eye
8:37 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012
I don't know what the Will County residents think, but if this is their idea of fairness, I believe they should demand a refund! The original investigation was a joke, and this trial is just as bad, in that the judge is presenting HIS case by stopping the SA at every turn.
This is justice? This is putting this man on trial in front of a jury of his peers?
Robert Nordbye
7:52 am on Thursday, August 16, 2012
Are you just that dumb, in this country a person is innocent until proven gulity. There is NO proof that Drew did it. Justice doesn't care what you think or what I think. It's all about proof. The prosecution has NO proof, only hearsay which is not evidence. What someone thinks isn't proof. What someone thinks happened doesn't mean it happened. It's a story, a story to convince people not to look at the facts/proof but go by emotion. If we do that, your also gulity of murder or I. Because we can always pay people to lie and make up stories like these jokes that call them sleves the prosecution.
Anonymous
11:04 am on Thursday, August 16, 2012
Robert, our justice system is completely flawed, not to mention corrupt... In the case of Drew Peterson, he's got previous gf/ wife who testify he was violent and two of his wifes are dead and gone. It quite obvious what has happened here, this isnt the stone age.. Sounds to me like youre a proponent of the "youre not guilty unless you get caught" syndrome.
joliet resident
11:36 am on Thursday, August 16, 2012
Thank you so much Watchful Eye. Drew and his defense team act like women are totally dispensable and even the judge is denying them their rights from beyond the grave. I know lots of women that are divorced but, I have never heard one say anything so cryptic as if anything happens to me look at the ex and then they are found dead in a dry tub or missing.
JEFF ATWELL,
4:32 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Yes i do agree the whole situation is a joke but however u look at it he lives and breaths the same constitusional rights as u or I live by an honestly,Drew is not getting a fair trial either way if u convict him hes gonna win a appeal like he should an then as sad as it is He will win the case ,just cause ud like to c this man convicted dont mean ur right either.The state is trying there case the best they can to buy time to find stacey,obviously drew is not worried ,4yrs later he will b the only one that ever will know,an personally I think his consttutional rights have an are beeing violated...daily,sorry for my oppinion an sorry no disrespect to either stacey or kathleens family....THereis no proof that he killed her to late for that..an what if stacey really did run off regaurdless at this point of his sick game he won an if convicted of this henious crime are judicial system has failed us all,anyway u look at it evidence does not show he killed her even if she was murdered,an if an when he beats this case he can proceed with a life of his choice ,sorry we live in a place we all want to be innocent till proved guilty,if not we could all be put through hell at states choosen thank god for our consttution an pray we still have that in Illinois,god bless an sorry to the familys of the ladies involved,my heart goes out to u an ur families,
Francis M. Regan
8:38 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Why did he need to climb into the tub. What will that prove?
Watchful Eye
8:48 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012
I don't care what you think it will or will not prove. After hearing what the last moments of that woman's life were like, I could care less about your question. There's plenty of "evidence" this judge has blocked. Videos of the murder defendant's tv time, the hole he created in the wall of the house, his financial gains, his solicitation of a hired murderer, the intimidation people close to the situation felt about Peterson...
Anyone with any human compassion should be sickened over what the doctor testified to today. Her life was worth something, especially to her two children. If this man walks because of a judge's stubbornness, or technicalities, that would be a gross injustice!
Francis M. Regan
8:54 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012
It is very tragic how she died. But now you will have to hear from he defense expert witness about the marks and bruises on Kathy and how they think she got them. I'm not a judge nor are you to determine what is his discretion to allow or not allow in court.
Watchful Eye
8:57 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Oh, Regan, you can't be impartial and fair and you know it. This judge has gone above and beyond what is required of him to keep the rulings within the Rules of Evidence. This trial is nothing but Judge Burmila's 3-Ring Circus. After a while, people are going to start taking notice of this man's outrageous rulings that stop the State from presenting a case!
Watchful Eye
8:59 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Once again, after hearing how terrifying it was for this poor woman, I don't give a rat's butt what you or anyone thinks anymore. Whatever happened, her life's end was horrible. I can't get that picture out of my head.
Francis M. Regan
9:07 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012
If the Chief Circuit Court Judge thought Burmila was overstepping the rules, they would reel him in and tell him to be more wiser in his rulings and omissions of evidence.
Watchful Eye
9:15 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012
I highly doubt there's a slew of people that think anything this judge has done so far is wise. He flies around the room like a witch on a broom when he has one of his anger fits.
I'm beginning to wonder if the State really is doing what they have been on purpose, because they're at the crossroads of insanity with this judge's rulings!
This is not justice. This is one man's determination to outwit and outsmart his enemy, whether it involves the death of Kathleen Savio or not. This is all just the same as what she went through years ago. May the poor woman, no matter what happens, rest in peace once and for all.
joliet resident
11:40 am on Thursday, August 16, 2012
Yeah, that would be in fantasy land not Will County. Francis you are as crooked as the judges in this county if you don't smell a rat. Drew got by the first time and he will get by this time because of the good old boy network. He wasn't even a decent cop but the boys in blue are protecting him. Your comments are vicious and show what you really think of women.
littlemamajo
10:27 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012
I totally agree with you Watchful Eye, Kathy is being victimized all over again! Also, what about the unfairness to the jurors. Are they really getting all of the facts of this case? And how are they going to respond when they find out that the Judge withheld so much pertinent information? I guess we shall see when this case has run it’s crazy course, what the verdict will be.
Watchful Eye
8:36 am on Thursday, August 16, 2012
@Robert Nordbye. No, Mr., I am "not that dumb." I think before you shoot off your mouth, you should be a little bit more concerned about your own ability at acting and sounding dumb, because this sure makes no sense grammatically or otherwise:
"Because we can always pay people to lie and make up stories like these jokes that call them sleves the prosecution."
But, I really don't have any use for what you think. As far as the prosecution having "NO" proof, just hearsay, could that be because the judge hasn't allowed them to put on their case at all, and has roadblocked them at every turn?
I think quite a few people, other than you and a mere few others, have seen that now after watching this angry, vindictive judge preside over this case. He's disallowed powerful testimony that could potentially damage the murder defendant and possibly convince the jury of his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
BTW, the former SA didn't exactly bring professionalism and integrity to his office. Kathleen was a voice he ignored, and the Kevin Fox issue speaks for itself.
But, hey, thanks for your insight and "wisdom" anyway.
Tori
8:52 am on Thursday, August 16, 2012
If you read Judge Burmila's bio here on Patch, you will see he was defeated by James Glasgow for the position Mr. Glasgow now holds...no wonder he's being so hard on the prosecution! He definitely has a grudge against Glasgow and his team. Also, I recently testified as a witness to a car accident (I was injured and my car wrecked due to the other driver) at Will County courthouse and when I spoke to the prosecutor before I took stand, he seemed to care less about hearing my side of the story and the jerk that hit me almost walked out of there with not guilty charges. If I had been paying that prosecutor, I would have fired him. So, I'm not surprised about the bumbles done by the Will County prosecutors. I pray the jurors find Drew guilty and lock that scumbag up for good.
Rae
10:52 am on Thursday, August 16, 2012
From what I have read in here in the past, Judge Burmila has some animosity due to losing the election to James Glasgow. If that is true, shouldn't they have selected another judge to preside over this trial? Could it be possible the Judge is playing favortism towards the defense because of his bitterness in losing the election to James Glasgow?
Tori
2:53 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
I found it unbelievable that Burmila was excluding so many things that would help the prosecution. I think he should be investigated for showing favoritism to the defense because it definitely sounds like he has a grudge against Glasgow. I wish Glasgow would file a complaint with the ethics board. And Drew definitely dropped the mistrial motion because he sees the judge is on his side. Drew knows if there is a mistrial and he gets another judge that will not show favoritism towards the defense, he's getting locked up for good.
Francis M. Regan
8:58 am on Thursday, August 16, 2012
If the Prosecutor thought Burmila was acting inappropriate or purposely trying to derail the case with omitting certain evidence, believe you me they would be filing complaints with the Chief Circuit Judge or the ethics board.
joliet resident
5:19 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
And you know they haven't filed complaints Francis???
Rae
11:00 am on Thursday, August 16, 2012
Why did the Judge instruct the prosecution to inform Mr Blum he was to steer clear of making any statements of being in the tub?
joliet resident
11:45 am on Thursday, August 16, 2012
Rae, the answer to that is Burmila wants the prosecution to lose and obviously his supervisors feel the same way. You can look at Burmila's pictures on the evening news and see something is not right there. He looks like he sounds to the public. My question is; do we elect Burmila or is he appointed??? I would feel like I was doing something respectful for Kathy Savio if I voted him out!
Watchful Eye
11:54 am on Thursday, August 16, 2012
Wow, I can't WAIT to see the PROOF when the defense puts on their case, that Peterson was where he said he was all that weekend. After all, the defense says the State has no PROOF he was in Kathleen's house. I say, "show me the money." Show me the PROOF he wasn't there!
If a jury is presented with the option to weigh both arguments, if they are not given PROOF he was at home at all relevant times, they can just as well agree with the State that he was at Kathleen's home, murdering her. Circumstantial evidence is allowed in trials, and it is a means of convicting someone.
Cuts two ways.
JEFF ATWELL,
4:55 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
watchfull eyes in alot of ur statements u can say u are pretty smart but u forgot one main main problem in the facts of trial see he does not have to prove anything at all ..HE has rights as well obviously u are personally connected and im sorry for ur losses there is do process an i dont care if u did a crime or u didnt ,if there is no proof there is nothing.An come on be honest with urself an everyone else ,how is "hearsay"evidence proof beyond a shaddow of doubt?if that was the case a complete stranger could say they were with drew at this time in question .and on ur statements alone he would be a freeman..common sense tells u that if our constitution means anything,hearsay is exactly that .itis not ur thoughts of what happened.Its reality they dont have a case on this man ..they already are twisting it to make there case since when is hearsay allowed in court?rather right or wrong he has not been proved to have done anything at all..an if i was on that jury i guarantee i would not send a guilty verdict u cant if there is anyself respect in the jury case was foiled before it even started.an again sorry no disrespect to those ladies or there family
Cld
1:35 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
Quote"it looks like a duck,walks like a duck,QUACKS like a duck it must be a duck."end quote.......hmmm.
Martin
1:42 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
I've been reading the comments here with alot of hilarity. Y'all are seeing with the case purely B&W and so dug into your ideas of the case, as presented in the media, that you refuse to acknowledge the truth is probably someone in between.
Watchful Eye...Show me PROOF me there is a God. or the opposite of it...Show me PROOF there is NO God. That is your arguement.
Watchful Eye
3:18 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
@Martin said: "Show me PROOF me there is a God. or the opposite of it...Show me PROOF there is NO God. That is your arguement."
Show me you're smarter than a Fifth Grader, and can construct an intelligent sentence, and spell argument correctly.
You do have a sense of humor, don't you? You must, judging by your writing....
Watchful Eye
3:21 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
@Martin, on second thought, in re-reading your first paragraph, I didn't realize it gets worse after reading from the bottom up:
" Y'all are seeing with the case purely B&W and so dug into your ideas of the case, as presented in the media, that you refuse to acknowledge the truth is probably someone in between."
My comment regarding the above sentence - Huh????
Flora Dora
3:48 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
All of you who think Drew is innocent until proven guilty may have different opinions if it was you or your family that he targeted.
joliet resident
4:35 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
Flora Dora, I think most of the people out there defending Drew have a vested interest in the case. How bad is it going to look for the coroner (who is currently still in office) and all the others that were elected or were Bolingbrook/Illinois State employees, if Drew is found guilty. This speculation did not start when Stacy went missing. It had been there since day 1 of Kathleen's death. In fact, I believe Joe Hosey had written about it in the Herald before Stacy ran off with the guy that no one is missing!!!
Francis M. Regan
4:35 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
Still Flora it's innocent until proven guilty and no other way per our constitution.
Watchful Eye
5:31 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
If Glasgow loses this case, I really don't think his re-election is going to hinge on it. On a positive note, he was the one that freed Kevin Fox for being zoomed by the former SA!
Jeff Ashton just won the election for SA in Florida, and we all now how the CA case went.
Wasn't the CA case the one where everyone was absolutely positive the jury would find her guilty? Who the heck knows what a jury will do, including here. It's all speculation.
joliet resident
5:51 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
Glasgow is my hero for keeping Drew in jail as long as he did. If he loses this case it's because the jury was influenced by an overblown defense and a judge that is ethically questionable. I want a new coroner for this county!! He is the one that aided and abetted Drew's crime wave!
Harry Callahan
5:05 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
@joliet resident I hope you don't look like Glasgow,hes scarier looking than Drew,just remember one thing they almost fried a innocent man in the Fox case,not counting that accused police officer that was innocent and the real killer later on showed up close to my doorstep to me thats scary.
abbyinillinois
7:51 am on Friday, August 17, 2012
I agree with what someone earlier wrote that the evidence doesn't sound like it proves that drew peterson did anything. Nothing.
It is very clear that horrible things happened to this woman! Nothing seems to like Drew to these horrible acts.
I could share what my personal thoughts are, but what does that matter.
I was on a jury for a murder trial many years ago and was one of the last people to believe his guilt. I had to hear all of the facts. I really annoyed the other jurors but that was my job. And just as in this case the victim was killed in a horrible way but I had to hear and see for myself that or if the defendent really did it!
Personally, Drew seems like a total narcissist.
MS
5:28 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
Maybe scumbag Peterson can "accidentally" drown in the shower in jail. You never know when a healthy individual just happens to get covered with bruises, head split open, and then, ooops drowns... Peterson needs a taste of what he has dished for years (and got away with) to all the Mrs. Peterson's-- by some 300lb. inmate.
joliet resident
5:56 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
And then Brodsky could defend the guy that did that to poor Drew! That would be perfect.
JEFF ATWELL,
5:19 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
lol u obviously never been to jail..inmates are more likely to help drew then hurt him.an really alot of inmates would help him work on the case people of all walks of life want fairness an that includes equal rights for all not what people assume jail has alot of innocent peoplein there an sorry will county has been known to accuse completly innocent people before
mike altamorr
3:41 pm on Sunday, August 19, 2012
Drew will be acquitted due to the incompetence of illinois law enforcement. Hearsay should never be allowed and is a synonym for gossip.
Watchful Eye
7:12 pm on Sunday, August 19, 2012
@Mike Altamoor - do you think that anyone, or everyone, that Kathleen Savio told DPeterson was going to kill her and make it look like an accident is gossiping? Or that she was only trying to dirty him up by saying that?
Then I guess you believe that she had a terrible accident, and it was only a coincidence that her death came suddenly at the precise time she was about to enter into a property settlement divorce agreement with him.
Wow. That's something to think about.
joliet resident
8:54 pm on Sunday, August 19, 2012
Watchful Eye, I wish you were really Judge Burmilla! It sickens me the way he is handling this case. As I have said before the only thing fair so far is that Drew has been in jail for 3 years. At least he is paying a small payment for what he has done to 2 women. Funny, these people will all laugh at Glasgow if Drew is set free, but, I don't think Drew will change and he will strike again since he knows he can literally get by with murder in Will County. His personality says it all.
JEFF ATWELL,
5:26 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
joliet resident,and watchfull eyes sorry ur personally offended but ur incompetance,an ur presumptions are totally outtaline anobviously ur angered because what u guys are saying is rediculous and exactly why they have jurys ,an just fyi its already been declared a accident just like football silly thats gonna b a hard call to reverse,
Cathy
12:18 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Drew is an arrogant ex cop who thinks he can do as he pleases, especially when it comes to his wives. He thought he had gotten away with Kathleen's death. And I'm quite sure he must of threatened Stacey on a regular basis. I can only pray that one day soon they find Stacey. Then we could show his defense lawyers WHO Stacey is! Jerks! How disrespectful to her family to say "Stacey Who, who's Stacey?" That was totally uncalled for but it rolled off their lips easily, with laughter to boot.
joliet resident
12:50 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Thank you Cathy, you are 100% correct. However, Drew is getting better each time and I doubt if Stacey will ever be found. It is a terrible shame that he laughs and is disrespectful to the family. Hopefully he stops killing people if he gets by with this.
Harry Callahan
4:52 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
@Watchful Eye, I think someone needs to keep a "Watchful Eye"on you,you seemed obsessed,with this.
joliet resident
5:29 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Jeff Atwell, I did try to read your entertaining comments but with all the errors it actually gave me a headache. Perhaps, third graders should not be allowed to comment.
JEFF ATWELL,
7:06 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
LOL people like joliet resident tells it all in it self .writing comments,iagree id not attach my name to ridiculous comments aswell ,an obviously sense were throwing insults out there,I can see u still haven't passed the eighth grade or u'd know ur constitution by now ,the one that allows u to speak about others with ur insults not very smart But i didnt say enething disrespectful i just have an oppinion just like u my friend ,right wrong or in different he is a sick individual no doubt ,but there is due process an actually its funny u said that cause i am very intelligent thank you
joliet resident
7:14 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Why doesn't the judge look into the jury dressing alike??? I have never heard of such a thing in a trial. It seems to me they are talking about the case if they are planning their wardrobe together.
Francis M. Regan
7:21 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
JEFF ATWELL is my wife and her brothers love child. He comes over too my home every so often for a english lesson. I teach him every thing I know. Were on the same page , I like that.
JEFF ATWELL,
7:32 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
joliet resident ive read alot of ur statements.an i agree that dude is a dirty sob.but i am a firm believer in innocent till proven guilty is all,i cant tell u why the judge doesn't address this whole circus act at court. I personally have been in several court rooms in my life my personal oppinion they would have had a easier case charging him with stacy,an plz dont take what i say the wrong way I do not like him or anything he stands for,I do not agree with the defense strategy or there awlful smart @ss comments ....all i was saying is he is owed the same process in a court setting as anyone else.sorry if u felt disrespected or any of the ladies family or anyone else just was saying